title: Detectability as a function of spatial location: effects of selective attention.
abstract: In a series of previous reports we have described differences in detectability of a target in a background of nontarget patterns as a function of its spatial location. These differences, referred to as a "detectability gradient," have been attributed to target detection accomplished by a serial processing mechanism--a scan. The mathematical model of such a mechanism, developed in the previous report, is equally applicable to a series of attentional shifts or to a perceptual, i.e., a preattentive, mechanism. The present experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that this scan is attentional in nature. The results provide additional evidence for the scanning hypothesis but do not support the view that this scan represents a series of attentional shifts.
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiology-Biophysics Research Laboratory, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Martinez, California 94553.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Yund
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011337:Probability Learning; D012691:Serial Learning; D014794:Visual Fields